The university will allow new and expectant mothers to re-join their courses after maternity leave and appear for examinations, which will be considered as their first chance and not supplementary as in the past. Image: Calicut University

KOZHIKODE: Calicut University on Wednesday became the first Indian varsity to grant long-term maternity leave for women students, enabling them to continue a course without facing a ‘year-out’ due to pregnancy.

The university will allow new and expectant mothers to re-join their courses after maternity leave and appear for examinations, which will be considered as their first chance and not supplementary as in the past.

University student welfare dean P V Valsaraj said the decision was the culmination of two-year efforts initiated by the student grievance redressal cell to bring in gender equality and provide equal educational opportunity to women students . . .